Best Shoes for Stability

FAQs

• What is a stability shoe?

  The definition of a stability shoe depends on your needs and your activity. Runners commonly seek out stability shoes that use posting to correct for pronation issues, which usually involves going to a running store for a gait test. For people with mobility issues, a stability shoe is more about preventing falls. Shoes with wider, larger bases tend to be more stable while narrow shoes and high heels are generally less stable. Ankle and arch support can also be helpful for stability.

• Do I need stability shoes?

  If you’re a runner with flat feet or low arches, or if you overpronate for some other reason, stability shoes might be for you. One way to check for pronation issues is to look at the wear patterns on the shoes you wear most often. If your shoes are more worn on the medial, or inside, edge you probably overpronate. If your shoes are more worn out on the lateral, or outside, edge you likely underpronate.

  If you are feeling like you aren’t getting the stability you need from your shoes, you may want to look for shoes that offer a wider base and help promote a healthier gait. You may also be after stability shoes if you have high arches, differences in leg lengths, or various other gait conditions.

• Are stability shoes good for high arches?

  Depending on how high your arches are and how that affects your movement, you may benefit from specialized shoes. High arches can cause instability and foot fatigue, and people with high arches tend to underpronate (supinate is another term that means the same thing). For runners, when we talk about “stability shoes” we are generally talking about support to prevent the opposite problem, overpronation. But if you think of stability shoes as any shoe that guides you back to a natural gait, people with high arches benefit as much as anyone else.